At its premiere in Russia in 1892, “The Nutcracker” ballet was considered a failure by the public and critics.

Tchaikovsky, who composed its famous score, died less than a year later, not knowing what a huge international success the ballet would later become.

Nowadays, you’d be hard-pressed to find a place in the world that does not produce the ballet during the holiday season in a town or city nearby.

Island Dance founder Charlene Brown didn’t know that her first Whidbey Island “Nutcracker,” cobbled together about

16 years ago, would turn into the fine production it is today.

The company that she co-founded, with the sole intention of bringing more ballet to the island, is about to open its 17th annual “Nutcracker” for eight performances from Dec. 11 to Dec. 20 in the South Whidbey High School auditorium in Langley.

The Whidbey Island Dance Theatre is deep with high-level dancers this season, and in a quick chat with company directors/choreographers Brown and Susan Sandri, talk turned to how far the company has come since that first “Nutcracker.” They also revealed a few surprises the company has in store for this year’s Whidbey Island holiday tradition.

Back in those early days, Brown enlisted the help of her then-company partner Jan Burrow and choreographer Asharaine Machala, among other dancers and choreographers living on Whidbey.

“We took out loans to produce it,” Brown said. “There were lots of specials (a single light on one portion of stage action) to light it, but we pulled it off.”

“But now, I feel really good when that first dancer steps onto the stage. It’s overwhelming that we’ve come all this way, and I get emotional about it; it means so much to me. It’s wonderful,” she added.

Sandri said she came to the production about 10 years ago. Now she considers how far they’ve come.

“When I look at that first production and the one we produce now, it makes me feel good. Considering it’s this little island and (company) alums are coming back to help, guest artists come from as far away as Minnesota (Ben Koehl who plays the Snow King and the Forest King), and you get to see the wonderful reactions on the faces of the children who see it, it’s so wonderful,” Sandri said.

One of the company board members did some math and told Sandri that the current production consumes about 20,000 man hours by about 100 performers and crew members, and another 100 volunteers who work behind the scenes. After all, it takes lots of people and lots of rehearsal time to create all that magic.

And WIDT “Nutcracker” regulars will be happy to hear that much of the magic is new this year, with a new scene for the living room and fresh Drosselmeyer antics played by a new actor in the part, the elegant Lars Larsen.

But not to worry, children — the awesome dragon is back, as are some new moves from the swallowtails and the mermaids.

The young, up-and-coming local choreographer Graham Vanderwood, who helped to choreograph a recent production of “The Rocky Horror Show,” is putting his mark on the battle scene, helping out longtime choreographers Susan Vanderwood (his mom) and Brown.

Other choreographers lending their skills to this many-faceted ballet include Sandri, Jennifer Bondelid, Leigh-Ann Cohen, and former company dancer, Chelsea Matthews-Jensen.

Colorful scenery and costumes abound in this production, including the fantastical growing Christmas tree, and never is there a lack of something spectacular that even the youngest audience member can enjoy.

But, as Sandri and Brown noted, it’s the indefatigable skills of this year’s dancers who will make this production soar.

“I’m as proud of this production as anything in my professional career,” Sandri said.

“I would invite anyone to come and see it.”

Not surprising, because there is plenty of bursting-at-the-seams talent in this cast.

In the part of the Nutcracker will be the ever-exciting Jachen Mackner, while hip hop competitor Vanderwood challenges his skills and takes on the mainly balletic part of the Nutcracker Prince. Emily Rookstool will play the demanding and athletic role of the Rat King, and Grace Swanson will show off her long, sleek femininity as the Rose Faerie in the Waltz of the Flowers.

WIDT’s award-winning soloist Juliana Brielle Nolen is perfectly cast in the role of Clara this year, while professional dancer Koehl, who has wowed island audiences since 2007, gets to dance the Snow pas de deux with Snow Queen Avery Grant, and the Sugarplum pas de deux with Faerie Queen Sayaka Yokota.

Grant and Yokota, principal ballerinas with the company, are both juniors at South Whidbey High School. Both have received special recognition from national adjudicators and have studied at prestigious summer programs such as the Boston Ballet (Grant) and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (Yokota).

Rising to the high standard of dancing in this show is the talent of the myriad artists whose work is brilliantly reflected in the sets and costumes of this production. Elaborate sets and props were created by Whidbey Island designers and painters Mary Ellen O’Connor and Gary and Tarey Kay. Sumptuous costumes soak up the light in this show by local designers and fabric artists Aloria Lanshaw of Scattered Threads, Tarey Kay of Tarey Togs and Dayna Antognini and Kris Schricker, with masks by designers O’Connor and Diana Shirley, making all 155 characters who grace the stage of this “Nutcracker” come to life. Special effects are by Hollywood professionals Ray Brown and Bob Riggs, adding the finesse of “spectacular” to this splendid ballet.

Both Charlene Brown and Sandri are awed by the undying community support surrounding “The Nutcracker.”

“Even in this economy, the community has come out for this show, and I know they’ve had to make some huge sacrifices. But, it means that much to the parents; that it is an important experience for their children, so they are willing to sacrifice for it,” Brown said.

“We’re really thankful for that.”

“The Nutcracker” plays at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 11, 12, 18 and 19, and at 2 p.m. Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20. Advanced tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for youths, $18 for seniors. An opening night special is $15 all seats. Tickets are $20 at the door. Call the box office at 341-2221, e-mail boxoffice@widtonline.org or visit the Web site at www.whidbeyislanddancetheatre.org.